Responding to announcements by the Government yesterday of reduced quarantine periods for international travel and financial support for airports the British Air Line Pilots Association representing 10,000 U.K. commercial pilots broadly welcomed the news but said more help was still needed.

General Secretary Brian Strutton said:

“At long last the Government is starting to unwind the policies that have crippled the U.K. aviation industry but it is not enough and further urgent action is necessary.

“Confirmation of the lifting of the ban on international leisure travel, introducing the option of a shorter quarantine period and direct financial support for airports is a hat-trick of welcome news.

“But it is vital that more is done urgently to give customers the confidence to book holidays for next year and businesses the confidence that U.K. aviation can cope post-Brexit in 38 days time.

“Critically, Government should firstly set a date when it aims to replace quarantining with airport testing so that everyone can plan towards that and secondly Government should support the operational and skills infrastructure that will be needed for aviation to recover.”